How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy Condoms?
Condoms are balloon look-alike devices for adult extra-curricular activities.
They help with pregnancy prevention and STD protection, and above all, they don't cost that much. So, how old do you have to be to buy condoms, anyway?
In case you are wondering, you can never, ever use a balloon in place of a condom but it could possibly work the other way around.
In this article, we put things into perspective for all the safer sex-loving and condom-using people out there living in the wilderness of the naughty world.
Keep on reading to find out if your age prohibits you from purchasing condoms.
If you are shopping for condoms you are in luck because we live in a time where things are in your favor.
Because of the Internet, it has never been more accessible for everyone to buy condoms. Quite frankly, nowadays you should not even think about where to buy condoms because the answer is simple — online.
Of course, you might say that the Internet is not always an option and you would be right. Sometimes you need to make a spontaneous buy to have them available at a moment’s notice because the time is, you know, tonight. If this is the case for you and you forgot to hop on your smartphone or another internet-connected device to place your order ahead of time, not a problem.
There are lots of offline outlets for you to shop for condoms near you. That is, unless you live deep in the woods, miles and miles from civilization. In this case, you need to go back to where people live to make your purchase.
Even a small gas station in the middle of nowhere typically carries condoms. You might not have too many to choose from, but a few 3-packs should be there to "save you."
Click here to get a condom sample and also Buy 2, Get 1 Free condom deal.
Not using a condom is not a solution Before we dive into this subject, let's first say that buying condoms should not be difficult. Not using a condom just because you were too shy to buy a pack should not be the case today. You don't want to pay for your immaturity by catching some nasty STD.
We understand you might find the buying process an awkward task, especially when you are young and new to this stuff. You might ask yourself many questions and overthink the whole situation. It's usually not as difficult as you convince yourself it is in your head.
In case you are a bit too overwhelmed, the following paragraphs will hopefully put you at ease.
We hope you start feeling a bit more confident about the whole deal and see that it is not that difficult to buy a pack of condoms off-line. Now, let's move onto the question of the day.
How old do you have to be to buy condoms?
The short answer is that you don't have to be a certain age to buy condoms unlike buying alcohol, cigarettes and other "adult" things. If you go to your local supermarket, pharmacy or a gas station, the clerk working at the cashier register typically does not ask you for your identification (drivers license or ID).
So there isn’t really a legal age to buy condoms in the U.S.A. On the other hand, there is a legal age to have sex that is generally referred to as the age of consent, which varies throughout the 50 states in America.
So technically, why would you need to buy condoms at the age of, let's say, fifteen, could be a valid question for debate.
Age of consent by state
We put together a list of the age of consent by state. All the age groups below are in no way clean-cut answers to the age of consent by state. There are several age scenarios between the partners to make it legal to have sex, and laws change over time. You can always google this topic for the up-to-date information in your state. There are serious jail sentences in every state for breaking these laws.
If you fall into one of the age groups below, do more research regarding the age of consent in your state to be sure you’re legal.
Age of 16
Sixteen is the age of consent if you live in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Main, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington or West Virginia.
Age of 17
Seventeen is the age of consent if you live in Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York or Texas.
Age of 18
Eighteen is the age of consent if you live in Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin or Wyoming.
Let's get back to the buying part for the moment.
When to buy?
If you think you might need condoms, you should make a small investment to buy some, so you always have them around when the time comes. Depending on the brand and quantity, a box/pack of 12 condoms usually goes for around $10. CondomJungle always has a quantity discount so you'll save even more when you buy more.
Where to buy?
You can buy condoms from any place like drugstores, selected grocery stores or gas stations. In these places, you'll usually end up paying a premium price.
If you don't want anyone to see you, you can place your order online right from your smartphone. So convenient. That way you don't have to worry about people staring at you when you shop at your local supermarket if that bothers you.
Also read: This Is Where to Buy Condoms Today, Tomorrow and Every Time
What kind to buy?
With a plethora of condoms out there it can feel like a difficult task to choose, especially when it's new for you. We are here to tell you that it's not difficult at all. There are a handful of brands out on the market, and you get to choose from four sizes and several types. Do a little bit of research and you'll be in to know about condoms in no time.
Also read: Types of Condoms
How many to buy?
Condoms come in boxes or packs. Box count varies by manufacturer, but 10 or 12 counts are the most usual. Depending on the type of the material and some other factors, the general shelf life is at least several years. That fact alone shows that you have a long time to put your condom pack to use. If for whatever reason they expire before you could use them, toss them and buy new ones.
Also read: Do Condoms Expire?
To sum it up
You do not have to be a certain age to buy condoms nor do you really need to have parental consent to obtain condoms. If you are a child, who obviously hasn’t reached the age of consent in your state, you may get questioned, and rightfully so.
Some government agencies do provide condoms for teens for free. Their selection is limited so don't expect otherwise. And, you will also have to face the person working there. So if this is something you simply don't want, do it the modern way. Buy condoms online, and everything should be hassle-free regarding the awkward moments.
If you are serious about your sexual health, investing a few dollars to premium branded condoms is a wise choice to make.
Check out our selection at CondomJungle.com, and as always, Hump Responsibly. We’ve sold condoms to people just like you since 2006 and will make sure you are another satisfied customer.
Click here for more condoms, reviews, prices, discounts, samples and product specifications.